BY MAYOWA SAMUEL AND BRIGHT JACOB
Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, on Thursday condemned the double standard being displayed by the Federal Government in its recognition and treatment of state-owned security agencies.
He condemned the lukewarm, if not outright resistance and unwillingness to accord recognition to the South West Security Network, codenamed Amotekun Corps, displayed by the Federal Government when it was established and the efforts made to arm the operatives of the Amotekun with assault rifles.
Akeredolu, who was reacting to a viral video showing operatives of Katsina State security outfit brandishing AK47 rifles, expressed anger and disgust in a statement he personally signed on Thursday.
Katsina State is the home state of President Muhammadu Buhari.
In the statement titled “We believe in one Nigeria, but we cannot have one country, two systems,” Akeredolu declared that the Ondo State government has decided to procure arms to protect the lives and property of the people of the state, more so when bandits have unfettered access to sophisticated weapons.
“The video making the rounds showing the equivalent of the Western Nigeria Security Network (Amotekun Corps) in Katsina, obtaining the approval of the Federal Government to bear arms is fraught with great dangers. Denying Amotekun the urgently needed rights to legitimately bear arms is a repudiation of the basis of true federalism which we have been clamoring for.
“That Katsina was able to arm its state security force, with the display of AK47 means we are pursuing ‘one country, two systems’ solution to the national question. If the Katsina situation confers advantages on some, in the face of commonly faced existential threats, it means that our unitary policing system, which has failed, is a deliberate method of subjugation which must be challenged.
“The Independence agreement was based on a democratic arrangement to have a federal state and devolved internal security mechanics. We must go back to that agreement. Denying Amotekun the right to bear arms exposes the South West to life-threatening marauders and organized crime. It is also a deliberate destruction of our agricultural sector. It is an existential threat.
“We want to reiterate that what is sauce for the goose, is sauce for the gander. The Ondo State government, under the doctrine of necessity has decided to fulfill its legal, constitutional and moral duty to the citizens of the State, by acquiring arms to protect them. This is more so, given that the bandits have unchecked access to sophisticated weapons. The state government cannot look on while its citizens are being terrorized and murdered with impunity. We will defend our people,” he vowed.
